United miss chance to go top in defeat at Valencia, but City win

MANCHESTER UNITED blew the chance to top their Champions League group as Jose Mourinho’s much-changed side slumped to a 2-1 loss at Valencia.

Progress to the last 16 was already assured ahead of the trip to the Mestalla, yet this was a chance for Paul Pogba and Co to prove their worth and secure a win that would see them top Group H in the unlikely event that Juventus slipped up in Switzerland.

The improbable played out 650 miles away as Young Boys secured a remarkable 2-1 win against the Serie A behemoths but United failed to capitalise as they lost by the same scoreline in Spain, with Marcus Rashford grabbing a late consolation after Carlos Soler struck and Phil Jones turned into his own goal.

It was a largely lifeless, incoherent display from Mourinho’s men and awful preparation for Sunday’s trip to Premier League-leading rivals Liverpool.

Soler, once a reported United target, put Valencia ahead 17 minutes into a first half that saw Pogba - back after two games on the bench - somehow miss a gilt-edged chance, unaware that offside had been wrongly signalled.

Any hope of a comeback disappeared seconds into the second half as Jones turned into his own net on a night that heaps unwanted scrutiny on United ahead of the trip to Anfield, despite Rashford leading a late push.

Leroy Sane struck twice as Manchester City came from behind to secure top spot in Group F with a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim.

Sane cancelled out former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric’s early penalty with a stunning free-kick just before half time and grabbed his second on the hour. City also hit the woodwork twice as they created numerous chances after making a sluggish start.

Pep Guardiola’s side, who gave valuable experience to 18-yearold Phil Foden, dominated the second half and Sane could have had a hat-trick had he not passed up another shooting chance.

Holders Real Madrid – already secured of a place in the last 16 at top of Group G – crashed to a 3-0 home defeat against CSKA Moscow.

■ Chelsea go in search of a sixth Europa League Group L win from six games against Vidi with a host of first-choice players rested.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kante are rested and have not travelled to Budapest, while Mateo Kovacic, Gary Cahill and Victor Moses are injured.